Indonesia Indian Ocean Tuna and Large Pelagics – Longline

Project Description

Indonesia Indian Ocean Tuna and Large Pelagics – Longline

The Indian Ocean longline tuna and large pelagics PT Tuna Permata Rezeki FIP was established in 2015, consists of 35 fishing vessels. PT Tuna Permata Rezeki is a member of Indonesian Tuna Association (ASTUIN).

The FIP aims to support and contribute to the development of the improvement and sustainability of the tuna fishery in Indonesia.

Objectives

To promote traceability to ensure that the origins and status of tuna and large pelagic products purchased are well-known and all coming from legal fisheries by engaging the supply chains that support improvement

To improve the availability of accurate data on catches retained and by catch

To collaborate with other institutions working on tuna fisheries issues in the country, including working together to improve the management and policy towards sustainable fisheries.

To support and contribute to the work of the Indonesia National Tuna Management Plan

To help develop the most cost efficient vessel traceability system.

Ensure safe working conditions and workers’ rights in supply chains.

Improvement Recommendations:

Improve traceability to ensure that the origins and status of tuna products purchased are well-known and all coming from legal fisheries and meet the standards of the US sustainability standards of the impending NOAA plan.

Improve the availability of accurate catch data and the use of logbook

Improve the management and policy to support sustainable management of the tuna fisheries.

Provide fair working conditions for all fisheries employees.

Background

The Indian Ocean longline tuna and large pelagics FIP was initiated by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, and the FIP has been led by PT Intimas Surya since January 2014. The first phase (2012 – 2014) involved 28 longliners, and the second phase (2015 – 2020) will expand to include 35 contracted vessels.

In March 2015,the longline Indian Ocean FIP expands to include 35 longline vessels owned by PT Tuna Permata Rezeki.

The FIPs supports and contributes to the development, improvement and sustainability of the tuna and large pelagics fishery in Indonesia by promoting traceability; improve the availability of accurate data on catches and bycatch; and collaborating with other institutions working on tuna fisheries issues in the country, including working together to improve the management and policy towards sustainable fisheries.

Progress update

2015

January – June

An MOU with the Research Institute for Tuna Fisheries was signed in April to support the observer onboard program in longline vessels operating in the Indian Ocean. The observers collect scientific data for stock analysis and assist in training vessels crew to use logbook for catch data.

P.T. Permata Marindo Jaya and PT Intan Seafood will be joining forces under the “Supporting the Future of Indonesian Fisheries” logo. These two companies working together cover a wide range of species in both the demeral and pelagic categories. This will allow FIP to organize traceable data on more species in preparation for eventual stock assessment. There are synergisms to be mined by combining the resources, catch data, and traceability expertise of these two companies. They will work toward incorporating traceability in their supply chains over the coming year.

July – December

P.T. Permata Marindo Jaya has undergone the final social. The audit process has been successful certifying they employ safe working conditions and fair labour practices on company owned vessels in in the processing plant.

5 passive VTS have been allocated for use on offshore vessels. They will be installed in January 2017. The use of these passive tracking units will be used to track daily fishing locations and connect daily catch data to location data. The system developed to connect daily catch activity to location is to prepare for the NOAA sustainability law that will become effective 2018 as well as meet market requirements for catch transparency and traceability. These VTS tracking units will be visible on the Google “Global Fish Watch” portal that available to the public.

Catch data continues to be collected and archived in preparation of use in government stock assessment. As of this time there are no uploading capabilities for company developed catch data for use in government stock assessment. In late 2016 the Ministry of Marine Affairs – Fisheries created a Stock Assessment Commission (SAC). The uploading link for archived company catch data is expected in Q2 2017 for use in stock assessment work by the SAC.